A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is a challenging and rewarding position in the healthcare industry. With the elderly population increasing, the demand for CNAs continues to grow. A Certified Nursing Assistant’s main role is to provide basic care to patients, as well as to assist them in daily activities that they might have trouble with on their own. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to, assisting with personal hygiene, feeding, bathing, making patient beds, and taking vital signs. Because of the intimate nature of the job, CNAs should be compassionate and enjoy helping others. If you have these qualities and are looking for a gratifying career, a Certified Nursing Assistant might be the right choice for you!
CNA Training in Arizona – Requirements and Program
The Arizona State Board of Nursing does not have a minimum age for CNAs. However, the Arizona Department of Health Services requires that workers be at least 16 years old if they provide direct care in longterm care facilities. In addition, many CNA programs in Arizona require a high school diploma or GED in order to enroll in their program.
There are over 60 Board Certified Training Programs in the state of Arizona located at colleges, high schools, nursing homes, and independent facilities. These programs have varying prices and schedules so be sure to choose the one that best fits your needs and lifestyle. All CNA training programs in Arizona are at least 120 hours with a focus both on classroom curriculum and clinical training. For a complete list of current Board Certified Training Programs, click HERE.
Certified Nursing Assistant training is where you will receive the skills and knowledge necessary for you to pass the CNA Written and Manual Skills Test as well as to become a successful Nursing Assistant. Some of the skills you will learn include applying bandages, proper thermometer use, blood pressure readings, ambulating patients, and showering patients.
CNA Written and Manual Skills Test
Once you complete your Board Certified Training Program in Arizona, you are ready to sign up for the examination. The test consists of both a written portion and a skills portion. The Written Exam is made up of approximately 75 questions which you will have 90 minutes to complete. You must have a score of 75% or higher to pass the knowledge portion of the exam. Questions are selected from subject areas based on the approved Arizona test plan and include questions from all the required categories as defined in OBRA regulations.
Written Exam Subject Areas:
Safety
Communication
Infection Control
Data Collection
Personal Care
Basic Nursing Skills Mental Health
Role and Responsibility
Care Impaired
Disease Process
Resident Rights
Older Adult Growth & Development
Perineal Care
Bed Pan & Output
The Manual Skills portion of the test allows test facilitators to witness your hands on nursing skills. You will be assigned the task or the task and an additional three randomly selected tasks from the list below for you to perform on your Skill test. You will be given forty minutes to complete the four tasks. For the skills exam, candidates are required to score a minimum of 80% on each task without missing any key steps.
Manual Skills Subject Areas:
Ambulation with Gait Belt
Ambulation With Walker
Applying an Antiembolic Stalking
Bedpan and Output
Bed Bath
Blood Pressure
Denture Care
Dressing Bedridden Patient
Feeding Dependent Patient
Fluid Intake
Isolation Gown and Gloves Mouth Care Mouth Care of Comatose Patient
Making an Occupied Bed
Perineal Care Female
Positioning Patient on Side
Range of Motion Knee and Hip
Range of Motion Shoulder
Pivot Transfers
Vital Signs
After successfully completing CNA classes in Arizona, you must pass both the Written and Manual Skills portion of the test in order to pass the exam. The 2014 Arizona average firsttime pass rate for the Written Exam was 86% and the Manual Skills Exam was 79%. These high passing rates show the quality of the training programs in Arizona.
After you have successfully completed both the Written Test and the Skill Test components, your test results will be sent to the Arizona Board of Nursing. If you fail either part of the exam, you must reapply to retake the one portion that you failed. Procedures for reapplying and test results are included in a failure notification letter which is mailed to you. You are eligible to test as many times as needed within 2 years of the date that you completed your CNA classes in Arizona. After two years, you must complete an additional Board approved training program in order to be eligible to retake the exam.
CNA Registry Requirements
Once you complete your Arizona CNA Training Program and pass both portions of the exam, you must undergo a criminal background check before you can work as a Certified Nursing Assistant in Arizona. For those applicants with a prior felony conviction, the Board must receive proof that five or more years have gone by since the date of absolute discharge of the felony. “Absolute discharge” from the sentence means completion of any sentence including imprisonment, probation, parole, community supervision or any form of court supervision. The Board considers applicants with felony convictions over five years from the date of absolute discharge on a case-by-case basis.
Once you have completed all necessary paperwork and meet all requirements, you will be placed on the Arizona Certified Nursing Assistant Registry and you can begin work!
CNA Renewal
Nursing Assistant certificates are valid for two years in the state of Arizona and must be renewed at that time. The Board will send you information regarding how to renew your license. It is important that you always keep your mailing information current so that you receive all important paperwork from the Board. The renewal process takes about three to four weeks so make sure to get the paperwork submitted in a timely manner so there is no disruption in your certification. You may also choose to renew your license online which you can find out more about HERE.
The Board does not require that you have any continuing education hours to renew your certification. However. the federal government requires that CNAs working in long term care facilities, home health, or hospice agencies have twelve hours of continuing education per year. Your employer may also have additional educational requirements.
Now all you need to do is find CNA classes in Arizona and get started!
CNA Job and Salary Data for Arizona Cities
Urban Area | Employed CNA’s | Hourly Mean Wage | Salary Range 10% – 90%* | CNA Employment Per 1,000 Jobs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Flagstaff | 260 | $15.19 | $10.85 – $21.27 | 4.52 |
Lake Havasu City – Kingman | 270 | $12.73 | $10.01 – $16.11 | 6.08 |
Phoenix – Mesa – Scottsdale | 8,730 | $14.21 | $10.80 – $18.04 | 4.65 |
Prescott | 470 | $13.57 | $10.48 – $17.08 | 8.10 |
Sierra Vista – Douglas | 100 | $12.37 | $8.62 – $17.51 | 2.84 |
Tucson | 2,370 | $13.11 | $10.32 – $15.87 | 6.65 |
Yuma | 510 | $12.30 | $9.79 – $15.08 | 8.33 |
Mohave Community College, which is accredited by the state of Arizona, has four different campuses as well as online training. The Colorado City campus provides full continuing education opportunities for students who wish to attend. Students who attend the certified nursing assistant program at the college must complete six credit hours of classes.
Website: http://www.mohave.edu
Located in Bullhead, the Mohave Community College at Yuma is the main campus for this school system. All classes and certifications available through the college are accredited so that students may choose to transfer credits in many situations. The certified nursing assistant program requires one six-hour class so that students will be prepared to take the state assessment exam.
Website: http://www.mohave.edu/pages/205.asp
Located in Prescott, the Yavapai Community College believes in preparing as many students as possible to enter the workforce with the training and education they need. A nursing assistant program at the school requires all students to provide health records and proof of immunizations before they may enroll. The course includes 16 weeks of classwork and clinicals hours.
Website: https://www.yc.edu/v5content/academics/divisions/sciences-and-health/
Glendale Community College is located in Arizona. This school is approved by the state of Arizona to provide different levels of training, including associate’s degrees, technical certifications, and adult education options. The Maricopa Nursing Assistant Program requires six credit hours, which are completed through three classes available on campus before students may take the assessment exam.
Website: http://www.gccaz.edu/academics/departments/nursing/NA-CNA
Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, is a fully accredited school in the Arizona Community College System. The school offers a whole system of learning options, including credit programs and degrees, adult education, continuing education, and non-credit certifications. The college offers a nurse training associates degree as well as a nurse aide certification course.
Website: https://www.pima.edu/index.html
Gila Community College in Eastern Arizona provides educational opportunities to students who live in all of Gila County. The campus itself is located in Globe and is accredited through the Arizona Community College System. Students may choose from a variety of associate’s degree options. Students may pursue a nursing assistant certification, which requires 16 credit hours of classwork.
Website: http://www.gilaccc.org
Scottsdale Community College in Arizona is a unique campus. The vast majority of the school has made the decision to do something good for the environment and go green through recycling, less waste, and renewable energy. The health sciences department handles all types of nursing training at the school, including the CNA program.
Website: http://www.scottsdalecc.edu/
Mesa Community College is actually a part of the Maricopa County Community College System and it has been in operation for more than 50 years, providing associate’s degrees as well as work ready certifications. The college offers a certified nursing assistant program to students who are new to the field as well as a CNA refresher course for students who need only to retake the assessment exam.
Website: https://www.mesacc.edu/
CNA Training Class Locations in Arizona (AZ)
The following is a list of state approved CNA Training Centers in Arizona:
Cities in Arizona:
Apache Junction | Avondale | Bullhead | Bullhead City | Chandler | Coolidge | Cottonwood | Flagstaff | Fountain Hills | Glendale | Globe | Kingman | Mesa | Nogales | Page | Parker | Payson | Peoria | Phoenix | Prescott | Prescott Valley | Rio Rico | Scottsdale | Sierra Vista | Tempe | Thatcher | Tucson | Windslow | Youngtown | Yuma
- City
- CNA Training Center
- Street Address
- Phone Number
Apache Junction |
Central Arizona College-Apache Junction-Main | 273 Old West Highway Apache Junction, Apache Junction, AZ 85119 |
480-288-4017 |
Avondale |
SouthWest Skill Center-Estrella Mountain Community | 3000 North Dysart Road Avondale, Avondale, AZ 85392 |
623-535-2700 |
Bullhead |
Legacy Rehab.-Care Center (aka Silver Ridge) | 2812 Silver Creek Rd., Bullhead, AZ 86442 |
928-763-8700 |
Bullhead City |
Mohave Community College-Yuma-Main | 3400 Highway 95, Bullhead City, AZ 86442 |
928-505-3378 |
Bullhead City |
River Gardens Rehab-Care Center, The | 2150 Silver Creek Rd., Bullhead City, AZ 86442 |
928-763-8700 |
Chandler |
Basha High School | 5990 South Val Vista Drive, Chandler, AZ 85249 |
480-224-2314 |
Chandler |
Chandler High School | 350 North AZ Avenue Chandler, Chandler, AZ 85225 |
480-812-7616 |
Chandler |
Hamilton High School | 3700 S. AZ Avenue Chandler, Chandler, AZ 85248 |
480-812-7616 |
Chandler |
Perry High School | 1919 East Queen Creek Rd, Chandler, AZ 85297 |
480-812-7616 |
Coolidge |
Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology | 1789 W. Coolidge Avenue, Coolidge, AZ 85128 |
520-423-2991 |
Cottonwood |
Mingus Union High School | 1801 East Fir Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 |
928-634-7531 |
Flagstaff |
Coconino Community College | 2800 S. Lone Tree Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86001 |
928-527-1222 |
Flagstaff |
College America Flagstaff | 3012 Historic U.S. 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 |
928-213-6060 |
Fountain Hills |
Fountain Hills High School | 16100 East Palisades Boulevard, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 |
480-664-5591 |
Glendale |
Deer Valley High School | 18424 North 51st Avenue Glendale, Glendale, AZ 85308 |
623-845-4066 |
Glendale |
Glendale Community College | 6000 W. Olive Ave., Glendale, AZ 85302 |
623-845-3264 |
Glendale |
Life Care Center of North Glendale | 13620 North 55th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85304 |
602-843-8433 |
Globe |
Gila Community College/Eastern Arizona College Gila Pueblo | 8274 Six Shooter Canyon Rd., Globe, AZ 85502 |
520-428-3151 |
Kingman |
Gardens Rehab.-Care, The | 3131 Western Ave., Kingman, AZ 86401 |
928-718-0718 |
Kingman |
Lingenfelter Center, The | 1099 Sunrise Avenue, Kingman, AZ 86401 |
928-718-4852 |
Mesa |
Arizona Medical Training Institute f/k/a RSAA Training | 1530 North Country Club Drive #11 Mesa, Mesa, AZ 85201 |
480-835-7679 |
Mesa |
EVIT Adult Evening NA Training Program | 1601 West Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85201 |
480-461-4094 |
Mesa |
Mesa Community College | 1833 West Southern, Mesa, AZ 85202 |
480-461-7106 |
Mesa |
Pima Medical Institute-Main St., Mesa-Main | 4905 E. Broadway Blvd., Mesa, AZ 85709 |
480-644-0267 |
Mesa |
Sun Valley High School | 1143 South Lindsay Road Mesa, Mesa, AZ 85204 |
480-497-4800 |
Nogales |
Pierson Vocational High School | 451 North Arroyo Boulevard Nogales, Nogales, AZ 85621 |
520-325-8470 |
Page |
Coconino Community College/Page | 475 S. Lake Powell Blvd, Page, AZ 86040 |
928-645-3987 |
Page |
Page High School | P.O. Box 1927, Page, AZ 86040 |
928-608-4138 |
Parker |
Arizona Western College La Paz Campus | 601 W. 11th Street, Parker, AZ 85344 |
928-669-2214 |
Payson |
Gila Community College/Eastern Arizona College Payson | 201 North Mud Springs Rd., Payson, AZ 85547 |
520-474-2224 |
Peoria |
Medstar Academy | 14100 North 83rd Avenue Peoria, Peoria, AZ 85381 |
623-773-9000 |
Peoria |
Sun Grove Village Care Center | 20625 North Lake Pleasant Road, Peoria, AZ 85382 |
623-566-0642 |
Peoria |
Sunrise Mountain High School | 21200 N 83rd Ave, Peoria, AZ 85382 |
623-487-5125 |
Phoenix |
Accord Healthcare Institute | 6049 North 43rd Avenue Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85019 |
602-714-3439 |
Phoenix |
Alhambra High School | 3839 W. Camelback Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85019 |
602-764-6022 ext 64110 |
Phoenix |
Cactus Wren Training Program, LLC | 10640-28th Dr-C107, Phoenix, AZ 85029 |
602-741-5526 |
Phoenix |
College America Phoenix | 9801-Metro Pkwy E, Phoenix, AZ 85051 |
602-589-9860 |
Phoenix |
Desert Winds Training Institute | 1301 E. Washington St. Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85034 |
602-240-5900 |
Phoenix |
Glendale Union High School District@Thunderbird High | 7650 North 43rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85301 |
623-915-8900 |
Phoenix |
LAM and Associates School of Nursing Assistants | 8900 N. Central, Phoenix, AZ 85020 |
602-290-3162 |
Phoenix |
Life Care Center at South Mountain | 1661-Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85016 |
602-243-2780 |
Phoenix |
Metro Tech High School | 1900 West Thomas Road Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85015 |
602-764-8000 |
Phoenix |
Paradise Valley High School | 3950 E. Bell Road Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85032 |
602-867-5554 |
Phoenix |
Phoenix College-Phoenix-Main | 1202 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85013 |
602-285-7212 |
Phoenix |
Phoenix Job Corps Center | 518 South 3rd Street Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ 85004 |
602-254-5921 |
Phoenix |
Providence Training Institute | 9189-59th Ave-2, Phoenix, AZ 85302 |
602-606-8879 |
Prescott |
Arizona Pioneer’s Home | 300 S. McCormick St., Prescott, AZ 86303 |
928-445-2181 |
Prescott |
Good Samaritan Society-Prescott Village | 1030 Scott Dr., Prescott, AZ 86301 |
928-778-2450 |
Prescott |
Yavapai Community College | 1000 East Sheldon Street Prescott, Prescott, AZ 86301 |
928-776-2247 |
Prescott Valley |
Bradshaw Mountain High School West | 6000 East Long Look Drive Prescott Valley, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 |
928-759-4100 |
Prescott Valley |
Yavapai Healthcare Academy | 7749 E. Florentine Rd, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 |
928-775-0525 |
Rio Rico |
Rio Rico High School | 1374 West Frontage Road Rio Rico, Rio Rico, AZ 85648 |
520-325-4870 |
Scottsdale |
Adult Care Learning Systems, Inc | 3225 North 75th Street Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 |
480-634-7712 |
Scottsdale |
Saguaro High School | 6250 N. 82nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85250 |
480-484-7100 |
Scottsdale |
Scottsdale Community College | 9000 East Chaparral Road Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ 85256 |
480-423-6000 |
Sierra Vista |
Cochise College-Sierra Vista Campus-Main | 901 North Colombo Avenue-Sierra Vista, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 |
520-515-0500 |
Sierra Vista |
Horizon Health Care Institute-Sierra Vista-Main | 555-Wilcox Dr-B Sierra Vista, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 |
520-439-9551 |
Tempe |
Brookline College | 1140-1150 S. Priest Drive, Tempe, Arizona 85281 |
602-589-1313 |
Tempe |
SEVEN Healthcare Academy | 2405 East Southern Avenue Tempe, Tempe, AZ 85282 |
480-557-9115 |
Thatcher |
Eastern Arizona College-Thatcher Campus | 615 North Stadium Avenue Thatcher, Thatcher, AZ 85552 |
928-428-8396 |
Tucson |
Caregiver Training Institute-Tucson-Main | 1940-Silverlake Road, Tucson, AZ 85713 |
520-325-4870 |
Tucson |
Fred G. Acosta Job Corps | 901 South Campbell Avenue Tucson, Tucson, AZ 85719 |
520-792-3015 |
Tucson |
Pima Community College | 4905 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85709 |
520-206-5140 |
Tucson |
Pima County Joint Technical Education District-8727 E. 22nd | 2855 West Master Pieces Drive Tucson, Tucson, AZ 85741 |
520-352-5833 |
Tucson |
Tucson College | 5151 East Broadway Boulevard #155 Tucson, Tucson, AZ 85711 |
520-296-3261 |
Windslow |
Northland Pioneer College | 1001 W Deuce of Clubs, Show Low, AZ |
(800) 266-7845 |
Youngtown |
Trendsetters CNA Academy | 12600 N 113th Ave # C6, Youngtown, AZ 85363 |
623-583-2737 |
Yuma |
Arizona Western College | P.O. Box 929, Yuma, AZ 85366 |
928-344-7554 |
Yuma |
Kofa High School | 3100 S. Avenue A, Yuma, AZ 85364 |
928-502-5400 |
Yuma |
Regional Center for Border Health, Inc.-Yuma-Main | 214 W. Main Street, Yuma, AZ 85350 |
928-627-9222 |